England’s next fixture in Salzburg could be the decisive match.
The river could easily overflow.
They might be able to remember what he said.
Clerical work may be available for two students who want to learn about publishing.
If you put well after could, might, or may, you are indicating that it is fairly likely that something will happen or be the case.
When it is finished it may well be the largest cathedral in the world.
We might well get injured.
If you put possibly or conceivably after could, might, or may, you are indicating that it is possible, but fairly unlikely, that something will happen or be the case.
These conditions could possibly be accepted.
Rates could conceivably rise by as much as a whole percentage point.
talking about the past
5.133 The following paragraphs explain how you use modals when you are talking about possible situations in the past.
expectation: should have, ought to have
5.134 You use should or ought to with have to say that you expect something to have happened already.
Dear Mom, you should have heard by now that I’m O.K.
You also use should or ought to with have to say that something was expected to happen, although it has not in fact happened.
Muskie should have won by a huge margin.
She ought to have been home by now.
possibility: would have
5.135 You use would with have to talk about actions and events that were possible in the past, although they did not in fact happen.
Denial would have been useless.
I would have said yes, but Julie persuaded us to stay at home.
You wouldn’t have pushed him, would you?
possibility: could have, might have
5.136 You use could or might with have to say that there was a possibility of something happening in the past, although it did not in fact happen.
It could have been awful.
I could easily have spent the whole year on it.
You could have got a job last year.
A lot of men died who might have been saved.
You might have found it very difficult.
uncertainty: could have, might have, may have
5.137 You also use could, might, or may with have to say that it is possible that something was the case, but you do not know whether it was the case or not.
It is just possible that such a small creature could have preyed on dinosaur eggs.
They might have moved house by now.
I may have seemed to be overreacting.
negative possibility: might not have, may not have
5.138 You use might not or may not with have to say that it is possible that something did not happen or was not the case.
They might not have considered me as their friend.
My father mightn’t have been to blame.
The parents may not have been ready for this news.
impossibility: could have with negative
5.139 You use could with a negative and have to say that it is impossible that something happened or was the case.
It couldn’t have been wrong.
The money was not, and never could have been, the property of the organization.
Talking about permission
permission: can
5.140 Can is used to say that someone is allowed to do something.
You can drive a van up to 3-ton capacity using an ordinary driving licence.
If you are giving permission for something, you use can.
You can borrow that pen if you want to.
You can go off duty now.
She can go with you.
formal permission: may
5.141 In more formal situations, may is used to give permission.
You may speak now.
They may do exactly as they like.
permission in the past: could
5.142 Could is used to say that someone was allowed to do something in the past.
We could go to any part of the island we wanted to.
5.143 You cannot use can or could to say that someone will be allowed to do something in the future. Instead you use be able to.
Be able to is dealt with in paragraphs 5.222 to 5.229.
Saying that something is unacceptable
5.144 Modals are often used in negative structures to say that an action is forbidden or unacceptable.
saying that something is forbidden: cannot
5.145 Cannot is used to say that something is forbidden, for example because of a rule or law.
Children cannot bathe except in the presence of two lifesavers.
We’re awfully sorry we can’t let you stay here.
saying that something is forbidden: may not
5.146 May not is used in a similar way to cannot, but is more formal.
You may not make amendments to your application once we have received it.
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